Legendary folk singer Ronnie Drew has died at the age of seventy-three, after a lengthy illness.

It's understood the founding member of the Dubliners passed away this afternoon at St. Vincent's hospital in Dublin.

Born in Dublin in September 1934, Ronnie Drew founded the group that would later be known as the Dubliners in 1962 and he also went on to pursue a solo career from 1995.

He recorded with many artists including Christy Moore and The Pogues and in August 2006 his handprints were added outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

Two years ago, it emerged he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

2008, a song was released called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" performed by a number of famous Irish musicians including the members of U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Christy Dignam of Aslan, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, Kila, Christy Moore, Andrea Corr, Moya Brennan, Shane McGowan, Bob Geldof, Damien Dempsey, Gavin Friday, Iona Green, Jerry Fish, Paul Brady, Paddy Casey, Mick Pyro, Mundy, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, Jack L, Eleanor Shanley, Mary Black, Declan O'Rourke, Mary Coughlan, and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard as well as The Dubliners and The Chieftains.

The single was written to originally include Ronnie himself but was changed to be a tribute to him as his health was declining. Proceeds from sale of the single went to the The Irish Cancer Society at the request of Drew himself.[7] The song was performed live on The Late Late Show on 22nd February with Ronnie Drew in attendance as an audience member, and entered the Irish Single Charts at #2.